Steam-engine valve and reversing means therefor



J. CHA-MBLESS.

STEAM ENGiNE VALVE AND R-EvERSING-MEA-NS THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1919.

1,337,468. Patented Aug. 15, 1921.

: Guam,

- unira STATES FATE JAMES CHAIVEBLESS, OF JASPER, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT 3 T carica- RUSSELL, OF JASPER, ALABAIVIA.

STEAIVLENGINE VALVE Ann nnvnnsrne MEANS THEREFOR.

esa-ace.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMns CHAMnLnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jasper, in the county of Walker and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in "Steam-Engine Valves and Reversing Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with improvements in steam engine valves.

The valve which is here involved is of the revolving type and is designed to take the place of the conventional slide-valve operated by an eccentric, the dispensing with which in this construction eliminates many disadvantages found in the use of slidevalves especially in high speed engines or those capable of developing high speed. For instance, it is well known that the reciprocating action of the slide-valve at high speed becomes more or less jerky and this results in the course of time to the loosening up of many of the parts and connections which for this reason require constant attention. On the other hand, in my type of construction the continuity of revolving of the valve makes for smoothness of action, less wear and tear, and may be accompanied by increase of speed and power.

These and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed. Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of a modified form of my valve arrangement; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve ember used in the type shown in Figs. 3

? Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of the drawrngs, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

In the drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, but I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to be 5 limited to the specific arrangement in which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16 1921.- Application filed March'15, 191a Serial No. 282,958.

the steam chest is directly mounted upon or in conjunction with the crank shaft of the engine. With this in mind at 32 is indicateda steam chest surrounding the engine 7 crank shaft 33, the body of said chest being preferably composed of separable sections bolted together in the position shown in the drawing. The steam chest 32 communicates with the cylinder 34 through the conduits 35, thesteam chest entrances to which open through the wall of the chest adjacent to the shaft 33 and as indicated at 36 in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. Within the chest is mounted a valve 37, which valve controls the admission and exhaust of the steam by reason of its special construction hereinafter referred to. The exhaust takes place through the passages 38 and the steam is supplied to the steam chest through the conduit 39. A reversing lever 40 is employed to shift the valve 37 relatively about its axis when it is desired to reverse the engine. For this purpose the shaft 33 carries a sleeve 41 to which the valve 37 is fixed. This sleeve is provided with a spiral slot through which a key member 42 projects into engagement with a grooved collar 43. Thus when the reversing lever 40 is shifted laterally into positions shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 the sleeve 41 has imparted thereto partial rotation which carries the valve in like manner and causes a movement of the same relative to the ports in the steam chest.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the valve body is solid, and is formed with a covering portion 12 which is adapted to cooperate with a short passage 10 in the wall of the steam chest atone side of each of the cylinder supply passages 7 and 8. These short passages 1O have a common exhaust outlet indicated at 10 in Fig. 3. Thus with the formation of the valve with the covering portion 12 for closing the ports 10*, steam will enter the chest through the passage 14 and passes into one of the passages 7 or 8, depending upon which is uncovered at the time by the valve. The other of said passages at this time is placed in communication with its adjacent port 1O by a chamber 12 formed in the valve. Continued movement of the valve will change the supply of steam to the opposite end of the cylinder as the other exhaust port is covered and the supply of steam is permitted to pass into the other end of the cylinder through this chamber passage 12 of the valve.

It will be understood that it is within the purview of this invention to utilize air or other like pressure as an actuating medium instead of steam, and I do not therefore wish to be limited in this respect.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a steam engine, a cylinder, a steam chest therefor, an axle journaled in a wall of said steam chest and having an end proectmg theremto, a valve mounted upon said end and bearing agalnst said wall, a steam supply port opening through said wall at each side of said axle and leadingto the opposite ends of said cylinder, and a separate exhaust port arranged adjacent to each of the supply ports in said wall and having a common outlet, said valve comprising a chamber adapted during rotation of said valve to establish communication successively between each pair of supply and ex-- haust ports While cutting off said ports from communication with said steam chest, and a portion adapted to simultaneously close the other exhaust port.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAlvilLS 

